Charcoal vs Gas Grill
A barbecue grilling guide has to begin with the charcoal vs gas grill issue because that must be decided first.
For Apartment or Condominium residents, you may have no option but an electric grill. However, the majority of barbecue buyers choose between charcoal and gas grills.
According to the HPBA (Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association)...
- gas grills account for about 60% of buyers
- electric grills account for 7% of buyers
- charcoal grills equal the rest.
So why do some of us stick with Charcoal opposed to buying Gas or Electric
Charcoal vs Gas Grill vs Electric
Taste or convenience?: The charcoal vs gas grill question alwys comes down to taste vs convenience. However, believe it or not, taste tests that have been performed actually reveal no significant flavor difference between gas and charcoal grills.
A gas grill is ready with a click of a button - They are easy to clean and there are hot coals to mess with and throw away. The Gas option also always includes features that everybody loves to have. In fact, you will probably never use all the features available in gas models. The majority of barbecue grill owners have gas grills and love them.
However, Every barbecue cook-off participant stands by charcoal grilling. They wouldn't even dream of using gas. Charcoal grills are simpler and less expensive, and they're gaining in features also.
But if it's not a matter of superior taste, (and we're not saying one is better than the other here) why would anyone buy charcoal? Could it be ego? We all know that the cook in us likes to control the outcome of the meal, so maybe Charcoal, although not the easiest solution, is perhaps the most satisfying.
Going Green With the Environment : The environment is at the top of our list lateley and going green while cooking is another issue to take a look at. Now if this is a concern, the electric grill is your choice of the day . Electric grills have no flame, so they are a perfect choice for the environment. On the other hand, is having no open flame really barbecuing?
Charcoal grills are the worst for the environment because they smoke. Their C02 emmissions are higher also. However, you can stop the fumes by using a charcoal chimney starter to light your coals. It's simple and inexpensive, and will cost you about $12 to $20.
Gas grills are somewhere in between. They use propane or natural gas which are at least natural products and only mildly noxious.
Charcoal gas grills are a modern option. They are charcoal grills with a small propane tank for lighting the coals, just like a gas grill. The best of both worlds?
Barbecue Buying Guide Basics
- Buy a grill with a known brand name, good customer support and a long warranty. If you do that, everything else will fall into place. With a long warranty from a reputable manufacturer you can take advantage of the great online deals without worry. Alos with a known manufacturer, you know you can count on solid construction too.
- Choose a grill with at least 400 sq. inches of cooking space. Anything less than that is inconvenient for cooking on the grill. Even if it's just the two of you and all you do is grill a couple of steaks now and then, don't settle for less. The first time you cook for company or want to cook the meat, veggies and bread at the same time, you'll be glad you bought the larger model.
- Be Smart About Your Features . Don't let lack aggravation effect cooking on your grill. If you are going to have your barbecue grill for a awhile, choose convenience features that you will want later as well as now, like work surface and storage. Purchase the best grill you can afford without going overboard on features you are not going to use. Also, look for safety features like stay-cool knobs.
- Easy assembly. Quality grills require little assembly and have easy-to-follow instructions. (Of course you can always opt for the custom stainless steel grill that comes with an assembly team and a chef for cooking, but most don't.)
Let's take a look at the features and pricing part of the barbecue buying guide for individual grill types.
Charcoal Grill Review
Charcoal grills are relatively inexpensive. High end units range from $300-400, charcoal-gas combos a little more. A basic unit costs between $50 and $150. But the rule of thumb with charcoal grills is "spend a hundred dollars more." For $100 more you can get enough features to keep the average griller happy for a long time.
Minimum features for your charcoal grill:
- Sturdy steel construction with a baked-on porcelain-enamel finish.
- Heavy-gauge charcoal grate.
- Deep, easy-to-remove ash catcher for easy clean-up.
- Adjustable-height heavy-gauge nickel or chrome-plated aluminum cooking grate, hinged for adding coals easily.
- Portables should have a locking lid for safety when transporting.
Upgrade Features:
Upgrades include shelves and warming racks, smoking ability, workspace, storage space, larger cooking grids, rust-proof ash-catchers, and porcelain-enameled cooking grates. High end grates are made of cast iron, porcelain-coated aluminum or even stainless steel. Gas-charcoal combination.
Gas Grill Review
Gas grills start at about $100 and end at around $10,000 for the gourmet/entertainer who wants the best money can buy. You can purchase a very nice model with lots of premium features.Grills in the $400-$600 range are gaining in popularity, according to the HPBA.
Minimum features your gas grill should have:
- Again, sturdy steel construction with a baked-on porcelain-enamel finish.
- Heavy-gauge nickel or chrome-plated aluminum cooking grate.
- 2 separate burners, with 2 separate control knobs for greater heat control.
- BTUs: 20,000 for small, portable units, 30,000-40,000 for a medium-sized model, and 50,000-60,000 BTUs for very large appliances. But note, these are relative figures. A well-engineered grill uses fewer BTUs but is more efficient, for instance. In general, the larger the cooking surface the higher the BTUs. But don't get sucked into paying for 100,000 BTUs if you don't need them. More is rarely better, just a waste of gas.
- Flare-up control system to quickly burn or divert drippings. This increases the life of the cooking elements.
Upgrade Features:
Upgrades include shelves and warming racks, flip-up workspace, enclosed storage space, large cooking areas with up to 6 burners, improved cooking grates (as above), side burners for cooking sauces, rotisseries and infrared cooking abilities, smoker boxes or drawers, and stainless steel construction. You have custom design and built-in options that include the use of natural gas, if you have it, for convenient, no-refill barbecuing.
Electric Grill Review
Small electric grills start at about $100 and full-featured units tip the scales at $2500.
Electric grills have most of the features of other grills, although it is harder to find one with a large cooking area. The size and other features of your grill will depend largely on your circumstances. But to get the most out of your grilling experience, look for a unit with very high cooking temperatures, 600° or higher, a non-stick cooking grid, and a smoker box. Step up to stainless steel construction, rotisseries, and built-ins.
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The Bottom Line When It Comes To Anything is That Y ou get what you pay for, so buy quality. |
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